Canyon 1, Boca Chica - Bayahibe & La Romana

We love Fingers for a relaxed second dive, especially after a deeper morning out. It’s got a maximum depth of 15 metres and the name really describes it – finger-like coral extensions reaching out from the main reef. This structure creates these lovely little gulleys and overhangs, perfect for spotting the smaller stuff. We’ve had great luck finding banded boxer shrimp tucked away, and you need to keep your eyes peeled for leaf fish and the always-entertaining frogfish. They just sit there, perfectly camouflaged. Visibility averages around 10 metres, so it’s not always about grand vistas, but more about the details. Look closely for nudibranchs crawling along the coral. There’s a good chance you’ll see torpedo rays gliding over the sand patches, or a Kuhl’s stingray half-buried. On one particularly memorable dive, we watched a Jenkins ray cruise past, its tail trailing. It’s a site that rewards a slow, observant pace, ideal for macro lovers or anyone wanting a chill dive with plenty to discover without the pressure of depth.

Location: Bayahibe & La Romana, Dominican Republic, Caribbean
Coordinates: 18.442000, -69.610000
Type: reef

Marine Protected Area: La Caleta

Best Time to Dive in Bayahibe & La Romana

The warmest water temperatures in Bayahibe & La Romana occur in January, averaging 26.9°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 26.9°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

January: 26.9°C (air: 24.7°C)
February: 26.9°C (air: 24.7°C)
March: 26.9°C (air: 25.0°C)
April: 26.9°C (air: 25.6°C)
May: 26.9°C (air: 26.9°C)
June: 26.9°C (air: 27.6°C)
July: 26.9°C (air: 27.8°C)
August: 26.9°C (air: 27.9°C)
September: 26.9°C (air: 27.7°C)
October: 26.9°C (air: 27.1°C)
November: 26.9°C (air: 25.9°C)
December: 26.9°C (air: 25.0°C)

Nearest Dive Centres to Canyon 1, Boca Chica

CARIBBEAN DIVERS - ASOBUCA - SSI, CMAS, SEI
Profundo Blue
Scuba Libre
Seaklub Samana - ["PADI"]
Shark Juan Dolio Diver
The Dive Academy - NAUI

Marine Life in Bayahibe & La Romana

Home to 181 recorded species including 157 reef fish, 6 seagrass & algae, 6 sea snails & nudibranchs, 3 other, 3 hard corals, 2 whales & dolphins.

Notable Species

Swordfish (Xiphias gladius) - Reef Fish
Blue Doctor (Acanthurus coeruleus) - Reef Fish
Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)
Gutong (Scarus iseri) - Reef Fish
Barber (Acanthurus bahianus) - Reef Fish
Gutong (Sparisoma aurofrenatum) - Reef Fish
Sheephead (Microspathodon chrysurus) - Reef Fish
turtlegrass (Thalassia testudinum) - Seagrass & Algae
manatee grass (Syringodium filiforme) - Seagrass & Algae
Escolar (Lepidocybium flavobrunneum) - Reef Fish
Coney (Cephalopholis fulva) - Reef Fish
Allison's Tuna (Thunnus albacares) - Reef Fish
Bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) - Reef Fish
loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta)
Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus) - Whales & Dolphins
Dark Green Parrotfish (Sparisoma viride) - Reef Fish
Dorado (Coryphaena hippurus) - Reef Fish
Graysby (Cephalopholis cruentata) - Reef Fish
Blue Parrotfish (Sparisoma chrysopterum) - Reef Fish
Great Barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda) - Reef Fish

Recommended Packing List for Canyon 1, Boca Chica

Based on average water temperature of 26.9°C.

Shorty or Rashguard - warm 27°C water needs minimal exposure protection
Mask - essential for every dive
Fins
BCD - buoyancy compensator
Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories